Game: Patton's Best

Thread: Re: Determine Target Size

MadMav — 2008-10-25T21:00:42+00:00

Found it! Thanks! I guess I did end up missing on that Frontal shot against that Marder III. Oh well, Flanking fire cleaned it up afterwards!

mbrugato wrote:
nyhotep wrote:
Havn't played this for ages, but checking the counter pic here on the geek, the German tanks have S,A, L and VL in the bottom left corner- is this it?

This is correct. Vehicles are rated by size as follows:

S = small
A = average? (no modifier)
L = large
VL = very large

Refer to rules section 12.0 (beginning page 10) for the enemy units that use these size ratings. Section 17.13 (Spotting, page13) defines what all but 'A' mean. The size rating is also a factor for main gun fire on the green player aid card.

Thread: Re: Determine Target Size

mbrugato — 2008-10-25T20:27:52+00:00

nyhotep wrote:
Havn't played this for ages, but checking the counter pic here on the geek, the German tanks have S,A, L and VL in the bottom left corner- is this it?

This is correct. Vehicles are rated by size as follows:

S = small
A = average? (no modifier)
L = large
VL = very large

Refer to rules section 12.0 (beginning page 10) for the enemy units that use these size ratings. Section 17.13 (Spotting, page13) defines what all but 'A' mean. The size rating is also a factor for main gun fire on the green player aid card.

Thread: Re: Determine Target Size

nyhotep — 2008-10-25T19:26:11+00:00

Havn't played this for ages, but checking the counter pic here on the geek, the German tanks have S,A, L and VL in the bottom left corner- is this it?

Thread: Determine Target Size

MadMav — 2008-10-25T19:18:35+00:00

Trying to find out how is target size determined on the "To Kill" table? I am guessing a tank would be a very large target but is a Marder III also very large or is it just large? I am unable to find any reference in the rulebook. Thanks for any help!

Thread: Re: Rules Question: Resistance Table

nightfall — 2008-10-06T13:59:31+00:00

Yes you are correct. Medium Resistance with a +1 Combat roll.

Good hunting.

Thread: Rules Question: Resistance Table

madDdog67 — 2008-10-05T14:16:22+00:00

I apologize in advance for what is sure to be a rash of questions today as I dust this puppy off after about 20 years .

Anyway, I'm at step 4.53...I rolled on the table to check the area adjacent to my start area, using the day's code (A/3/L)...so my expected resistance is Light...but my roll is 10, +1 for checking an A area, and I get 11. This makes the actual *area* resistance Medium, right? So when I actually enter that area, I roll for combat, and combat occurs on a 6 or higher, also with a +1 drm, if I'm reading this correctly. Am I right so far?

I'm expecting this mission to EASILY take 10 hours today....probably longer than it would have taken in real life .

Thread: Re: Combat Calendar

slovo — 2008-09-13T02:52:14+00:00

I bought a used copy that also didn't come with the Calendar but at http://www.grognard.com/board.html#l76 I found a spanish version of it.

Thread: What are the differences between WP vs HCBI?

klatall — 2008-08-31T22:44:26+00:00

It says HCBI puts down 2 smoke markers instead of 1. I've got that part.

In one place it mentions using HCBI when WP is too dangerous. Does this imply that WP is considered firing at the enemy unit, which may shoot back, but HCBI isn't shooting at the unit?

It also says HCBI is for putting smoke on friendly units. But.... why do you still check the To Hit Table, if you're not really shooting at the enemy? Friendly Forces are considered to be in the hub with yourself. Seems like HCBI would be much easier to put down than trying to hit an enemy at long range. And if course, you have smoke grenades for putting smoke on yourself.

Thanks for the help.
Ken

Thread: Re: See you in Berlin?

JackFlash — 2008-08-01T00:28:53+00:00

That's sounds cool! I wouldn't mind participating but I start classes again in 2 weeks!

Thread: Re: See you in Berlin?

fusag — 2008-07-31T22:42:36+00:00

Well, I was hoping to run a real-time campaign (27 July through 18 April), but I'm 9 hours into my first day and I'm already on my 12th combat. I'm not sure I have the free time to keep this up. I might need those multi-week refit periods to catch up.

So let's play it by ear. EDIT: I pre-rolled the days I'm fighting through September:

[c]
Date Situation Weather Notes
30 July A/4/M Clear Avranches
4 August A/2/L Clear
5 August A/4/H Clear Vannes
12 August A/2/L Clear Nantes+1
17 August A/2/L Clear Orleans+1
18 August A/2/L Overcast
21 August A/2/L Mud/Overcast
25 August A/2/L Clear
31 August A/4/M Clear Commercy
Refitting
12 September C/5/M Clear Moselle crossing
15 September B/9/M Mud Crevic and Maixe
16 September B/9/M Clear Luneville
19 September B/9/M Clear Arracourt
21 September B/9/M Clear "
22 September B/9/M Clear "
Refitting
26 September C/9/H Clear Counterattack
27 September B/6/M Clear Hill 318
29 September C/9/H Overcast Arracourt
[/c]
August will be a mad dash through France (the tank who captures the most territory gets a free round), but September...

Thread: Re: See you in Berlin?

ctcharger — 2008-07-31T21:51:42+00:00

Depending on when you all start, I'd like to start with you. I am moving here in August I need to wait for a couple of weeks. Still, sounds like fun!

Thread: Re: See you in Berlin?

fusag — 2008-07-31T17:56:02+00:00

cedric18 wrote:
I have given a small amount of thought to trying to come up with a "virtual squadron" similar to what has been ongoing for B-17 QotS, but have not pursued it to far. What were you thinking of doing?

Dave
Actually, something pretty similar to a B-17 virtual squadron. That is, solo campaigns played in parallel sharing some die rolls. People fighting on the same day can use the same weather roll, maybe the same roll on the time elapsed table. There's an off chance that someone will return a replacement crewmember back to the pool, and other players can pick them up.

Thread: Re: See you in Berlin?

cedric18 — 2008-07-31T16:07:27+00:00

I have given a small amount of thought to trying to come up with a "virtual squadron" similar to what has been ongoing for B-17 QotS, but have not pursued it to far. What were you thinking of doing?

Dave

Thread: See you in Berlin?

fusag — 2008-07-31T01:11:41+00:00

27 July, the day of the Operation Cobra breakout, slipped by without my noticing. Anyone interested in running parallel real-time campaigns? If you want competition, we can compare kills, VPs, decorations, but mostly I want to have a crew survive the war.

I just rolled my first day day of combat, and it's today, an Advance against Medium resistance around Avranches.

Thread: Re: Patton's Best -- reflections

bolter — 2008-07-20T10:46:51+00:00

Great thread! Now I understand why I enjoy solo-wargames.

Thread: Re: Patton's Best -- reflections

Dave Richtmyer — 2008-06-28T15:47:02+00:00

Seth,

Couldn't agree with you more ... very well put! You are absolutely correct that solitaire play puts the emphasis on those cardboard soldiers much more than 2-player or multi-player play. Actually, I'd say that all 3 formats represent different sorts of experience; here's how I'd describe them:

1. Solitaire - because you are playing a system rather than your buddy (or buddies in the case of 3 below) the concentration is entirely on the simulational aspect. This means you drink in the flavor of whatever the game is simulating much more than in options 2 & 3 below - as if you are in an inter-active movie. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that B-17 (and, to a lesser extent, PB) are *role-playing* games par excellence! Yes, I know that there's very little of the stat-fiddling that you get with a typical swords-and-sorcery RPG, but the feeling of actualy *being there* with those guys, trying just to survive long enough to go home, is represented in these games better than any typical RPG I've ever played. I'll never forget the game of PB in which I rolled the dreaded 100 and lost a whole crew - I couldn't believe it. I'd played that campaign (Canada's Best, available here on this site) for simulational months, only to have it abruptly and violently end in a totally random - but highly realistic - way. I just sat and stared at those dice for maybe 10 minutes! Similarly, I remember one memorable B-17 campaign in which I managed to actually get my pilot (aka 'me') through 23 missions when, rolling for the 24th, and using a General variant, I rolled "Schweinfurt." Oh-oh. And sure enough, the empennage took a flak hit that killed 2 guys outright and the rest ended up sitting out the war in Stalag-17. Ouch! As a side note, I've found that a manual game, like Patton's Best or B-17, where I get so I memorize certain charts and know instinctively the results on those dice even before I look up said results on the chart, gives greater simulational value than a comparable computerized game (like B-17 the Mighty Eighth). I'm not certain why, but I think it has to do with that internalization of the charts that a manual game affords and that is - by design - hidden in a computerized game. At any rate, I always feel "closer" to my cardboard guys (especially the one named "Me" ) than I do in any of my computer games.

2. Two-player - this sort of game, especially in its card-driven state (games like Up Front, Hannibal, We the People, etc.) have high simulational value, but also extremely competitive game play. And I've found that my focus on beating the other guy becomes so great that it drowns out the simulational value ... more like being in a street fight than being in an inter-active movie. And, of course, only one guy will win and the other will lose, not a case in 1 above or 3 below. So that too means that the competitive aspect becomes paramount.

3. Multi-player - here too the competitive aspect is present, but is ameliorated to a greater or lesser extent (depending on the game and the players seated around the table) by the fact that there is more than one opponent. Banter, even joking is the norm of the day in a multi-player game (at least until it gets down towards the end of the game when the competitive aspect assumes paramount importance). And at the game's end if you end up in the losing column, it's sort of like "oh well, I lost, but so did Greg and Jeff too!"

In the end I enjoy all 3 variations and play all 3, but like a memorable book - another solitaire activity! - the solo game experience can produce (at least in a simulated way) the experience of war, and thus be a focus for learning and wisdom like no other.

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

JackFlash — 2008-06-23T20:22:35+00:00

Sounds like a suicide mission!

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

mattriceten — 2008-06-22T15:45:22+00:00

Kingmaker (Part4)

The Old Man wants Mont*** taken before lunch, but we sit around, waiting for confirmation we’ll have artillery to support us if necessary…

I ignore the chatter from the crew, but I let Monkey out for a piss and a breather…

We push on up the lane, spraying the hedgerows and trees with our machineguns and hammering possible ambush sites with HE shells. Mullins, leading, reaches the town’s outskirts first, with Bravo Platoon on our left, smashing through gardens to reach their preliminary objectives just to the West of our own…

We pause to allow a platoon of infantry to scurry ahead, their faces and rifles turned towards the windows of the houses we now pass, before catching up with Mullins as he reaches the town square…

We hear reports of an AT gun somewhere ahead, but I see nothing from the cupola… Artillery begins to drop somewhere to the north as we inch up Main Street, Mullins still ahead, when BAM!, his right track disappears in an explosion of such furiosity I know it can’t be a mine…

I spot the SPG, dug in and camouflaged at the end of the street, the pall of smoke from its gun shielding it momentarily from view and then Monkey’s screaming that he’s spotted a King Tiger off to our left and all s**t hits the proverbial fan….

“Driver! Move it! Find some cover, sharpish!”

There’s no way we can tackle with a Tiger, even at this close range… Cooper puts us into reverse, then punches us through a low stone wall and through an orchard, before swerving left to put us behind another wall, with most of Kingmaker hull-down…

Mullins, although now marooned, continues to fight his tank, hitting what is now clearly a Marder SPG. The King Tiger is last seen pushing towards our rear, accompanied by infantry… The Old Man has lost the initiative, I’m thinking, as more German troops appear from the houses across the square…

Cpl. Malkin fires off HE, but misses the troops as they go to ground at the corner of the church yard…Yet more enemy troops appear, bullets whining off Kingmaker’s carapace as they attack then retreat, backing off from the sudden surge of return fire from our own troops who are moving forwards in leaps and bounds, the Germans taking cover in a Cafeteria…

Kris fires again, the shell obliterating the Cafeteria, the enemy attack now completely stalled, sporadic shots fading to nothing as our infantry fan out, rush forwards…

More artillery falls, too late, to the north of the square…

The Lt. comes in over the intercom… The King Tiger has linked up with a small contingent who are now threatening to encircle the Company in an attempt to crush us before we can mount a counter-attack…

“Understood, Able Leader, Able 2, out. Coop, turn us around. We’re heading back to the south…”

To mess with a King Tiger…

To be continued...

Thread: Re: to kill infantry targets table question

M37dude — 2008-06-21T03:47:24+00:00

Thanks Claude I can now continue.

Thread: Re: to kill infantry targets table question

fusag — 2008-06-20T19:18:43+00:00

M37dude wrote:
I am playing through for the first time and have hit a snag that I can't find in the rules. On the to kill inf targets table what is normal or critical fire? How do you make the table work? thanks for any help
Whether the attack is a critical hit, normal hit, miss, or gun malfunction is determined when rolling on the To Hit table. Whether a normal or critical hit actually kills the target to determined on the To Kill table.

The reason why hitting and killing the target are separate is that, theoretically, if you keep making your Rate of Fire, you can keep hitting the target. But you don't know if any hits have killed it until after you stop firing.

Thread: Re: to kill infantry targets table question

nightfall — 2008-06-20T15:13:00+00:00

First role the dice on the To Hit Target table. Find your base number on the Infantry column and see if your modified dice role is equal or less than this number to hit. If you rolled an unmodified role of 01,02,03 you have a critical hit. All other hits are normal hits.
Second. Now move to the To Kill Infantry Targets table. Use the column for the Gun you used. Find the base number for the type of hit ( normal or critical). If the modified dice roll is less than or equal to the base number than the target is eliminated.

Thread: to kill infantry targets table question

M37dude — 2008-06-20T05:58:25+00:00

I am playing through for the first time and have hit a snag that I can't find in the rules. On the to kill inf targets table what is normal or critical fire? How do you make the table work? thanks for any help

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

mattriceten — 2008-06-13T18:19:04+00:00

In fact, wargamer55 makes some very good points about solo games in his review in this forum...

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

mattriceten — 2008-06-13T18:16:05+00:00

....and maybe there's something in the 'distance' one has whilst playing a boardgame that actually brings you closer to your 'part' in it...? (Does that make sense, I wonder?)

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

jomni — 2008-06-12T01:27:30+00:00

mattriceten wrote:
I've got similar vibes from some tank simulations via the PC

Agree. This game gives me the feel of the old M1 Tank Platton 2.
Something missing from current tank sims.

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

mattriceten — 2008-06-11T18:56:23+00:00

Yep... Lead tank is indeed a bummer...

I think, if Kingmaker gets pushed to the front and she survives the possible ambush (Incidently, in all three games above, the Germans have failed to achieve an ambush!) I'll go Hull-Down and pop smoke and wait the fight out!.... Actually, that seems a little cowardly... But then again, the Old MAn seems to want everyone dead by lunchtime so I think I have every right to atleast try and survive.... My goal is to reach the first re-fit (Sptember 1st!) and get a better model of Sherman.... Clearly, the chances of this occuring are quite slim, but we shall see...!

In regards to how many of these session reports I can write, we will also see... I wouldn't be surprised if they peter out to nothing... There are so many unfinished reports scattered about the Geek...

Incidentaly, the last battle was very intense for me, game-wise... I obviously have a desire to get the crew through the day... (and if you think about it, the Cmdr. must survive... If indeed this is his diary..!) so I'm poised over the board and really shaking that dice and hoping for favourable results... I've got similar vibes from some tank simulations via the PC, but there's something about a board game that brings out something a little different in me....

(I've found a similar frision when playing 'Raid on St Nazaire'... I've felt emotionally exhausted by the time I've finished...)

The session reporting has also helped, because I'm focusing on the action, not just seeing it as "OK, I'm rolling the dice on the blue sheet... 54%... Mmmm, now let me see...."

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

JackFlash — 2008-06-11T18:37:05+00:00

I wouldn't want to be the lead tank! Definitely not!

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

jomni — 2008-06-11T05:59:28+00:00

Yeah in my first mission, we were assigned as lead tank. Being lead increases your chance of being a target. Got destroyed by a Pak40 in the very first encounter.

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

JackFlash — 2008-06-11T01:51:41+00:00

Amen to that!

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

mattriceten — 2008-06-10T23:10:07+00:00

That's the truth!

I thought at least one of those first two shots would have penertrated, but no... I was just lucky he didn't have a go at me!

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

JackFlash — 2008-06-10T22:14:45+00:00

I'm glad they finally got the Stu G! He was tough to kill!

Thread: Re: Kingmaker(Part 3)

mattriceten — 2008-06-10T21:04:23+00:00

The breakout was only 3 hours old, but I felt like an ancient. The sun beat down as we moved on through the empty French countryside towards the biggest town in the sector, Mont***. The Lt. informed us we’d be moving into the town to take it, but first we needed to take the ground to the south.

“…only light resistance expected. Out.”
“And you know what that means…” said Cooper from the driving compartment.
“Hey, Sarge,” said Monkey. “Any chance of a breath of fresh air. It’s hotter than a whore’s…”
“Able Platoon, this is Able 1. Once we’re through those trees to our front, we go hull down and cover Bravo 1 as they cross the fields to the east.”
“Guess you’re going to have to wait for that breather, Monkey. Look sharp, people. I’ve got a lurking suspicion we’re in for a battering…”

15 minutes later we were in a hull-down position with fields to our front, the steeple of the Mont*** church off to the left peeping above the trees and the four tanks of Bravo platoon sweeping the right flank.

“Able 2, Able 1… 10 o’clock to your position… Is that…?”
“Able 1, Able 2! Got it!”
“Kris! Rotate left! Monkey! AP!”
“I see him, boss! Stug III, in the copse…!”
“Mullins missed him!”
“Able 2! This is Able 1! He’s on the move! Over!”
“He’s coming right! Track him, Kris!”
“Oh, Jeez! He’s turning on us…! He’s seen us!”
“He’s using the woods! Kris! Take him, hit the…!”
“Fire! Fire again!”

Two shots hit, two shots bounce of the Stug’s front armour.

“S**t! S**t!”

The Self propelled gun opens up on a platoon of infantry, taking them apart with HE and MG fire as they try to make for the cover of a stream.

“Oh, Jesus, hit the f***er, Kris!”
“Target! Stug! Fire! Fire!”

Another hit, another bounce. Nothing’s getting through… And then…

“Sh*t! Malfunction! Malfunction! The gun’s jammed!”

And then…

“Able Platoon! AT gun in tree line to your left!”

Please don’t let it be an 88…

“Find it, people! Find it!”
“Got it Sarge!” This from young Lewis. “PAK 40! In the trees, to the right of the farm house!”

Someone hits an ammunition truck none of us had seen…

The tree line around the Pak 40 is inundated with smoke and explosions but no one hits it and meanwhile the Stug is on the move again, tearing through the hedges heading further to our right, wanting to take Bravo in the flank and rear…

“Clear the gun, Kris! Jesus! Get it shooting!”
“Gun clear!”

Thank Christ…
The PAK 40 takes a shot at the Lt. but misses, the smoke now hindering both sides…

“Kris! Target: Stug! Get the bastard in the ass!”
“Missed! Oh, Jeez Louise!...”

Blamm!
Mullins hits it.

“Able 2, this is Able 3. Davis, you crumb… Stop playing games and hit something. Out.”
“Able 3, Able 2. Up your ass, Mullins. Out.”
“Pak 40 moving back!”

Friendly artillery, more smoke and debris, but no KO. The AT gunners must lead blessed lives…

“Kris, rotate hard left! Target; Pak 40!” “Monkey! HE!”

The Pak 40 goes for Mullins and misses, thanks to the smoke and our infantry fire misses for the same reason…

“Fire!” “Missed! Come left, five…”

The AT gun pulls back towards the town and once again we’re left alive wanting to puke on the cordite from the gun and the billowing smoke from the blazing Stug…

...to be continued.

Thread: Re: Kingmaker(Part2)

mattriceten — 2008-06-10T15:30:51+00:00

We'd reached the outskirts of St.*** by 09:00 and I couldn’t believe what the Lt. was telling us.

"Ok, Able Platoon. Listen up. The Old Man wants us to punch through the town, so we’re going to have to keep our eyes well and truly peeled… ”
“Yeah, like my f**king rotting dead skull…!” This from Willey. “F**k that…”
“Shut it, Monkey.” I gave him a kick in the back for good measure. The rest of the guys were silent, listening.
“…and Able 2 to my right. Call out your targets, but remember your radio procedure. Out.”
“Jeezus! What the hell’s the Old Man thinkin’, boss?”
"How the hell would I know, Coop? But he hasn’t let us down yet, so I reckon we’ll just go along with it.”
“F**k the Old Man! What about the Lt.!? Bullsh*t if he don’t want us cold and dead before sundown…”

Bravo platoon off to our right were moving forward and Able 3, that jackass Mullins giving us the bird and a grin from his cupola, inched past on our left.

“Monkey… If I have to take you outside and thrash you again…” Although only 9, the sun was already hot and I was sweating like a pig. “Just shut your trap. Cooper, move us out.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Old Man had called in artillery whilst we were chit-chatting and the shells were dropping on the copse and hedgerows on the west side of the town. Someone, I think from Charley Platoon – probably Forest, but I couldn’t be sure, reported German troops breaking towards the east and bugging out. And then we had our own little piece of action.

"Able 2, this is Able 1, troops to the front! Troops to the front, over!”
“Able 1,” I replied, “This is Able 2. I can see them, over.”

A swarm of grey clad figures heading our way, a platoon of our own infantry opening fire to our left and the zip of bullets passing close over my head. I swung myself to the right and caught the glint of sun off metal…

“Holy sh…! Coop! All ahead, stop! Kris, rotate turret right! Monkey! Reload, AP! Fast!”

I grabbed a smoke grenade and popped it, just as the German infantry to our front came under fire from Mullins and Charley Platoon to our left and all I’m thinking is “Tiger! Tiger!” and the Kraut tank just seems to be getting bigger and bigger…

“Target! Panther! 500 yards!”
“AP! Ready!”

The smoke fumes billow about me. The Panther has gone into reverse.

“Driver! Pivot right! Kris, hold your fire!”

I’m hoping the German Commander won’t fire until I have the thickest armour between us and him... Some of our infantry have flanked the German troops and the enemy’s attack falls apart, disintegrates…

And the Panther continues to reverse and I lose him in the trees and the smoke stings my eyes and burns my throat…

------------------------------------------------------------------------

We reached the other side of St.*** without any further incident, the sun beating down and turning 'Kingmaker' into a furnace...

...to be continued.

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

mattriceten — 2008-06-10T12:58:18+00:00

It's on its way!

Thread: Re: Kingmaker

JackFlash — 2008-06-09T23:24:18+00:00

give us the rest of the story.....

Thread: Kingmaker

mattriceten — 2008-06-09T19:37:17+00:00

Mission: 1
Tank Name: Kingmaker, Able Platoon (Lt. McGaffey), 2nd Coy (Cpt. Smith)
Tank Model: M4
Situation: Cobra Breakout, 07/27/44
Weather: Clear

Cmdr: Sgt. Davis
Gunner: Cpl. Kris Malkin
Loader: Pvt. ‘Monkey’ Willey
Driver: Pvt. Cooper (‘The Chin’)
Asst. Drv: Pvt. Lewis

The CO tells us to load 30 extra rounds. We’re up for the breakout tomorrow. “We need to get our asses into France,” were his exact words. There’s the usual grumblings from the usual crowd…

The crew seems reasonably sedated, all except for our new boy, Prvt. Lewis who looks s**t scared. I tell Cooper to keep an eye on him. I don’t want any f**k ups due to nerves tomorrow. We’re not up against Eyeties anymore… This is the real deal.

After an early breakfast, we headed East, past burning Kraut trucks. The official advance began at 7:00, with the Chief giving the ole’ “Wagons Role!” command across the intercom. I let the men crap on a bit about the Old Man before telling them to put a sock in it. Captain Smith might be a few nails short of a bucket load but he’s a tanker, which is more than can be said for the Lt., but beggars can’t be choosers…

Our platoon, with Bravo Platoon to our left and Charley to our right and rear, ran into the first Krauts at 7:45 as we pushed on through the French countryside. They must have been led by a madman, ‘cos they burst from the farm buildings they’d been hold up in and came at us in a headlong rush, like my brother told me the Japs do in the Pacific… The crew worked fine and Malkin was able to smack them with two shots, the HE leaving nothing but smoking holes…

Charley platoon finished a couple of trucks off and, after a radio check, we moved on out…

To be continued...

Thread: Re: Patton's Best -- reflections

scribidinus — 2008-03-27T20:30:45+00:00

I'm with you. I played many games of Patton's Best, all the Ambush and Silver Star scenarios and 6 full campaigns of B17:QotS. During my solitaire gaming years. One DOES get attached to characters, especially if one names them in manner similar to one's friends.

To lesser extent I like naval games because ships are generally personified and referred to as females and are known by their names not numbers. "She's a good ship."

Thread: Patton's Best -- reflections

wargamer55 — 2008-03-27T18:12:15+00:00

Wargaming is a hobby. It's meant to be fun and educational It's not a profound investigation into the morality, effectiveness and politics of war, although it can give some insight in such study as well.

So I don't think it's inappropriate that wargaming concentrates on the more intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying aspects of military combat. Wargaming focuses on generals and strategy. It highlights honor, bravery and cleverness. It explores technology and tactics. It's about matching wits with wily opponents.

Wargaming pays relatively little attention to the death, suffering and tragedy that is such a large part of real-life war. There's nothing wrong with that.

In his groundbreaking Little Wars, H.G. Wells said:

"How much better is this amiable miniature then the Real Thing! Here is a homeopathic remedy for the imaginative strategist. Here is the premeditation, the thrill, the strain of accumulating victory or disaster -- and no smashed nor sanguinary bodies, no shattered fine buildings nor devastated country sides, no petty cruelties, none of that awful universal boredom and embitterment, that tiresome delay or stoppage or embarrassment of every gracious, bold, sweet and charming thing, that we who are old enough to remember a real modern war know to be the reality of belligerence."

So wargaming need make no apology for concentrating on the more attractive elements of military contests while de-emphasizing the ugly.

But there's also some value in being gently reminded that real war has real costs to actual human beings. We can be lectured thus, but the lesson derives more impact from being lived.

One interesting, if little-remarked aspect of solitaire games such as Patton's Best, B-17 and Ambush!, games that focus on the fates of individual soldiers, is that they can remind us that those little cardboard counters, wooden blocks or plastic soldiers we maneuver represent real lives that were lived and lost once.

I think that, being a solitaire game, Patton's Best emphasizes that loss more than even a similarly focused two-player game such as Up Front!, Shell Shock! or Ace of Aces. As soon as you introduce a live opponent, the game's focus switches to the competitive aspect and the soldiers' fates become secondary to the need to win. Even if you lose a character you have developed some affection for, it's in the cause of something bigger -- victory! In that sense the individual soldier is not all that different than the more faceless counter, block or generic figure in the larger scale wargames.

But with a solitaire wargame you're struggling against the "system." You're trying to defeat a faceless, soulless and remorseless enemy. In that way it's actually rather more like actual modern combat than anything else. In modern war one rarely sees the enemy at all, let alone as an individual opponent. There's little satisfaction in victory and often mere survival is the biggest reward.

Under these conditions I think losing your own guys in a game like Patton's Best, (or B-17 and Ambush) is more emotionally affecting than otherwise. Even if you "win" against the system, it's a somewhat empty-feeling if you lost ace gunner Bob "Deadeye" Smith that's been with M4 Sherman "Battle Baby" since the breakout at Avranches in July.

It's a small thing, really, almost trivial. But it does pull those who choose to reflect on it back from getting too carried away with the more glamorous aspects of military conflict.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

From In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

From my gaming blog http://pawnderings.blogspot.com

Thread: Re: Three more questions...

fusag — 2008-01-16T19:14:17+00:00

The following table is from whatever The General focused on PB:

Friendly Fire DRM Matrix
[c]
Air Adv 4.76 O.B.
Strike Fire Fire Arty
Flanking Fire N N (1) N
Air Strike vs Vehicle Y N N N
Each US-controlled Sector N Y Y N
Arty vs LW/MG/AT in Woods N N N Y
Each Inf Sq lost vs Lw/MG N Y Y N
Each Tank lost vs Vehicle N Y Y N
Smoke in Target Zone Y Y Y N
During Fog/Snow (2) Y Y N
Adv/Arty vs Vehicle N Y N Y
[/c]
(1) Flanking fire is applicable only when generated on the Random Events Table and is conducted by friendly units on the immediate battlefield.

(2) Air Strikes are not allowed during fog or falling snow conditions (Time Use Table, footnote #1)

Thread: Re: Three more questions...

gamer72 — 2008-01-09T17:32:55+00:00

Pac76 wrote:
Thank you boys!
Seems there are still some 4th Division Tankers out there...

Only until they issue a combat calendar for the Guards Armoured Division, old chap !

Thread: Re: Three more questions...

Pac76 — 2008-01-07T23:18:53+00:00

Thank you boys!
Seems there are still some 4th Division Tankers out there...

Thread: Re: Three more questions...

nightfall — 2008-01-07T23:12:47+00:00

1. Ambush. Use the modifier only for the ambush turn

2. Friendly Actions. You use all the modifiers. So add each sector marked US Control to the Flanking Fire modifier. You are correct about the exceptions for Artillery and Airstrikes.

3. Yes. AP is for vehicles and is useless against infantry targets. Infantry targets are LW,MG, and AT Guns.

Thread: Re: Three more questions...

gamer72 — 2008-01-07T22:13:40+00:00

1. Ambush bonuses just for the ambush, I should think.

2. I use the sector bonuses, but I don't know if I should !

3. Don't know, but it makes sense that only HE would be affected by mud.

Hope this helps !

Thread: Three more questions...

Pac76 — 2008-01-07T11:32:59+00:00

Hi community!

Two questions:

1) Ambush

At the beginning of an engagement I throw dice for possible ambush. Most of the time there'll be one of course.
After this, whenever I look for enemy actions, do I have to add the ambush bonuses (+10/+20) or just for the first, the real ambush turn?

2) Friendly actions

When looking for friendly actions, do I have to add ALL modifiers all the time? Or, for example, when there'll be Flanking Fire triggered by random events I just have the -10 without any US sector bonus?!?
I understand that, when I use airstrike or artillery, that I won't use US sector bonuses but what with other actions?

3) To kill enemy infantry targets by direct/area fire and mud condition

The weather table says: mud has influence on HE hits!
But the TO KILL INF table doesn't really make a difference between AP or HE ammunition. It's alway +5 in mud. Have I missed something?!?

Thanks for your responds!

Thread: Re: Combat Calendar

Pac76 — 2008-01-05T13:10:55+00:00

It's the last paper with the action reports!

Thread: Re: 'Patton's Best' for two (or more)?

mattriceten — 2007-11-19T11:21:58+00:00

Good point...

In the case of, say, a Tiger moving into the rear sector and encountering your buddy (whom you have 'left behind' because of a forward move), I don't suppose there would be any need to change any rules as the Tiger tank is at 'close' range for both the center sector guy and his buddy...

Additionally, if there is only a one sector move allowed for your buddy, there would hopefully not be any reason to find enemy units moving 'between' the two tanks....

In the case of point (b), I would continue to read the results of 'other tank' as the other tanks of the task force and only decide through dice rolls when 'your tank' results come up as to whichtank the enemy unit has targeted....

Thread: Re: 'Patton's Best' for two (or more)?

cktenhoff — 2007-11-19T00:32:27+00:00

For Item b, remember that besides the players tanks, there are the other targets in the Task Force.

So the easy way to handle this is when the Germans target the 'players', determine which one is targetted via which ever one is closest and if tied, a random roll.

The difficult part is how the Germans will maneuver, especially if the two tanks are in different areas, thereby requiring the German to turn and/or move.

Thread: Re: 'Patton's Best' for two (or more)?

fusag — 2007-11-16T18:07:18+00:00

mattriceten wrote:
Would this work?
The proof is in the pudding: try it and see.

Thread: Re: 'Patton's Best' for two (or more)?

mattriceten — 2007-11-16T16:47:30+00:00

Many thanks both of you for your replies ...

I think I might have come up with a possible way to deal with a two-tank version.

Most of the rules would remain the same, but with some adjustments to;

a)the number of enemy units activated, there being the need for more targets to shoot at...

b)the allocation of enemy attacks against the two tanks - and not simply a 50/50 roll of the dice...

and(c)the movement rules.

This last adjustment is clearly the hardest to balance.

One possible way I've been pondering would include the following;

In the case of one non-moving friendly tank and one moving, the moving tank remains in the center-sector, whilst the non-mover shifts in the same manner as enemy units would shift...

In this case, there would be a limit to a one sector difference, the two tanks not being allowed to stray further apart.

For the tank now one sector distant (let's say, to the rear), a simple move action will return it to the center sector alongside its buddy without the necessity of rolling for enemy shifts, but still rolling for possible bog-down or slipped track.

Would this work?

Thread: Re: 'Patton's Best' for two (or more)?

fusag — 2007-11-16T10:29:36+00:00

mattriceten wrote:
I'm looking to use the game in my classes with the Spanish army...

Does anyone know of a (semi-pseudo) original set of rules (perhaps from 'The General'?) that I could implement that would allow me to use, for example, two tanks (side by side) on the Battle Board, thereby illiciting more use of the dreaded 'Military English' I must force upon them!?

Thinking about it, I can see how one might go about putting together said rules, but if any of you fans of the game out there could lend me hand I would be very much obliged!
I don't know if there was a The General article, but one I idea I toyed with was porting the game to a large hex grid. Short, Medium, and Long range would be 1, 2, and 3 hexes respectively (maybe 0,1,2). The hex grid allows the player(s) to position multiple units to flank that annoying PzVI. Enemy units would still move Left, Right, Backward, or Forward, but in relation to a particular unit (either closest, the one that's shooting at it, or random).

The sticky part was how to handle US Control markers and where to generate German reinforcements. I imagined German reinforcements appearing in relation to the unit that would be closest if the reinforcement was placed there (clumsy wording, I know). US Control markers I envisioned as 3 markers placed 2 hexes away from the starting hex. Each marker would prevent Germans from appearing within that hex and adjacent hexes. When the control expands and shrinks, it grows or shrinks at the ends.

Or something like that. I thought of this about 6 years ago...

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hariseldon — 2007-11-13T16:05:38+00:00

Custom (Spanish) Patton' Best

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kjuice — 2007-10-17T14:21:28+00:00

a better rep pic i think

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thoia — 2007-04-22T21:33:05+00:00

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Tim Synge — 2007-01-31T21:00:49+00:00

Extract from the mapboard

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Tim Synge — 2007-01-31T20:59:04+00:00

Rulebook - front cover illustration

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Tim Synge — 2007-01-31T20:57:18+00:00

Sample tank card (#18): the Firefly

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Tim Synge — 2007-01-31T20:56:08+00:00

Sample tank card (#2): the M4

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Tim Synge — 2007-01-31T20:53:46+00:00

Blank "After Action Report" sheet

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Tim Synge — 2007-01-31T20:52:52+00:00

Back cover of rulebook with game credits

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Felisan88 — 2006-11-29T01:53:54+00:00

Acciones y cartas de tanques en españo lplastificadas